A Course for Safe Boating

Chapter 3 u Vessel Operation

Launching your boat: ƒ ƒ Check the ramp to make sure that it’s clear.

ALERT

Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and plants that cause a nuisance in California waters. Boats that are not properly cleaned, drained or dried can transport species to a place where they’re not native, and can cause problems for native organisms and upset the natural ecosystem. Remove all aquatic plants and drain water from your boat and trailer when you pull your boat out of the water . Aquatic invasive species and plants in California include water hyacinth, hydrilla, Egeria densa, zebra and quagga mussels, Amur River clam, Chinese mitten crab, European green crab and the New Zealand sea slug.

ƒ ƒ Back the vehicle and boat down the ramp until the boat begins to float. If you do not back down the ramp far enough, the boat will be hard to get off the trailer when you are ready to leave. If you back down the ramp too far, the boat will float off the trailer and might get in someone’s way or hit the dock and be damaged. ƒ ƒ If the ramp has room for more than one boat, back straight down on one side of the ramp. This will make it possible for others to launch or recover their boats at the same time. ƒ ƒ Do not start the engine until the boat is in the water, because engines that are supposed to be cooled by circulating water may be damaged. ƒ ƒ Once the boat is off the trailer, you can remove the winch cable. ƒ ƒ Quickly move the boat out of the launching area using the engine or the tag line. Take the vehicle and trailer to the parking area so that the ramp is clear. ƒ ƒ If you must leave the car while on the ramp, set the parking brake and put blocks under the wheels. If you have a manual (stick shift) transmission, turn off the engine and put the car in low or first gear. Pulling your boat out of the water: ƒ ƒ Back the trailer down the ramp so that the trailer is partially under water and you attach the winch cable to your boat. Pull the boat up using the winch so that the bow of the boat contacts the bow rest. Carefully center the boat on the trailer so that it rests on the cradles evenly. ƒ ƒ Raise and secure the outboard or inboard/outboard engine. ƒ ƒ Drive up the ramp in low or first gear. If the drive wheels spin, add weight over the drive axle and try again. ƒ ƒ Take the boat to the staging area and remove the drain plug. ƒ ƒ Use your tie downs to secure the boat to the trailer. ƒ ƒ Plug in trailer lights and check to see if they work. ƒ ƒ Check the tongue, hitch, safety chains, and other parts, as you did before. REPORT MUSSEL FINDS TO 866-440-9530 VISIT www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel LOOK FOR MUSSELS HERE DON’T MOVE A MUSSEL! When leaving the water: l Inspect all exposed surfaces - small mussels feel like sandpaper to the touch. l Wash the hull of each watercraft thoroughly. l Rem ve all plants and nimal material. l Drain all water and dry all areas. l Drain and dry the lower outboard unit. l Clean and dry all live-wells. l Empty and dry any buckets. l Dispose of all bait in the trash. l Wait 5 days in hot weather and up to 30 days when cool and moist. Keep watercraft dry between launches into different fresh waters. Mussels will ruin your boat, fisheries and California waters! Smartphone scan for more information.

WEBSITE For more information about aquatic

invasive species, visit www.dbw.ca.gov/ AquaticInvasiveSpecies

CHECK YOUR BOAT, TRAILER AND VEHICLE

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California Boating  A Course for Safe Boating

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